Ephesians 4:4-8
There is one body and one Spirit; just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says, "When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men."
(I "typoed" at first and ended up with "and He gave gifts to me." I liked that.)
Observations:
ONE- there is one: body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, God and Father of all.
Each and every one of us has been given grace, "according to the measure of Christ's gift- which as we know is immeasurable.
Christ ascended (implied descended) and "led captive a host of captives" (see Psalm 68 for the passage quoted by Paul here) and gave gifts to ME (men).
Application:
The idea of unity: Paul is back again to say that there is no difference, not Jew or Gentile- we are all one, brought together by the same God and Father of us all. Same needs to be applied in our churches today, and even in our families. We are not Baptist nor Methodist nor Presbyterian nor Church of Christ nor..., or the myriad of factions that exist even within denominations- we are one-one in Christ. I must affirm again the need to be one who preserves unity rather than brings discord to the body of Christ.
The last verse gave me some trouble. What in the world does that mean? I believe Jesus ascended into heaven, but who are the captives He led. Two thoughts, one based on 1 Peter 3:18-20- after the cross Christ descended to the "lower parts of the earth" (Eph. 4:9.) Peter tells us that Christ went to proclaim something to the disobedient spirits imprisoned there. Jesus went there not to preach to them but to make a proclamation and I believe that proclamation was that He had won the war- sin and death are defeated. Several sources say that the word used here is the OT word for Sheol-and it is believed that here on one level the OT saints were in waiting for Jesus, and on the lower level the angels of disobedience are locked away for now until the time of judgement (2 Peter 2:4)
My second thought is based upon the idea of the spoils of war. to the victor go the spoils- and the victor in this war is Jesus Christ. Every one of us, those alive now and those from the beginning of time, were captive to sin. I wonder if Paul is linking this to the idea of being a prisoner of Christ- no longer are we prisoners of sin, but prisoners of Christ and we will be taken up with Him someday in great victory.
Whatever my beliefs about those things, one thing is abundantly clear to me. The price Christ paid on the cross for me is not to be taken lightly. To each one of us grace was given; the immeasurable gift we have received through Christ. Through His suffering and death came great victory, and the gifts I have been given as a result need to be well-used in light of that fact.
Blessings,
Deb
There is one body and one Spirit; just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says, "When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men."
(I "typoed" at first and ended up with "and He gave gifts to me." I liked that.)
Observations:
ONE- there is one: body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, God and Father of all.
Each and every one of us has been given grace, "according to the measure of Christ's gift- which as we know is immeasurable.
Christ ascended (implied descended) and "led captive a host of captives" (see Psalm 68 for the passage quoted by Paul here) and gave gifts to ME (men).
Application:
The idea of unity: Paul is back again to say that there is no difference, not Jew or Gentile- we are all one, brought together by the same God and Father of us all. Same needs to be applied in our churches today, and even in our families. We are not Baptist nor Methodist nor Presbyterian nor Church of Christ nor..., or the myriad of factions that exist even within denominations- we are one-one in Christ. I must affirm again the need to be one who preserves unity rather than brings discord to the body of Christ.
The last verse gave me some trouble. What in the world does that mean? I believe Jesus ascended into heaven, but who are the captives He led. Two thoughts, one based on 1 Peter 3:18-20- after the cross Christ descended to the "lower parts of the earth" (Eph. 4:9.) Peter tells us that Christ went to proclaim something to the disobedient spirits imprisoned there. Jesus went there not to preach to them but to make a proclamation and I believe that proclamation was that He had won the war- sin and death are defeated. Several sources say that the word used here is the OT word for Sheol-and it is believed that here on one level the OT saints were in waiting for Jesus, and on the lower level the angels of disobedience are locked away for now until the time of judgement (2 Peter 2:4)
My second thought is based upon the idea of the spoils of war. to the victor go the spoils- and the victor in this war is Jesus Christ. Every one of us, those alive now and those from the beginning of time, were captive to sin. I wonder if Paul is linking this to the idea of being a prisoner of Christ- no longer are we prisoners of sin, but prisoners of Christ and we will be taken up with Him someday in great victory.
Whatever my beliefs about those things, one thing is abundantly clear to me. The price Christ paid on the cross for me is not to be taken lightly. To each one of us grace was given; the immeasurable gift we have received through Christ. Through His suffering and death came great victory, and the gifts I have been given as a result need to be well-used in light of that fact.
Blessings,
Deb
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